Banned (until we`re) on a run

Stop it. There, I see you? you there, stop it! Stop looking at the table. It`ll only depress you.

Yes, we`re still bottom. That`s the bad news.

The good news is far more numerous and much less sob-inducing: we`re playing much better; the new lads are settling in well; we`re actually looking like we might even win a game. Whisper that last one.

Taken in isolation taking a point at Bristol City, Burnley and being unlucky not to beat Sheffield United is pretty good. Mixed with a sneaky peek at that forbidden table and it`s less cheery.

Therefore, I hereby ban you (yes, you) from looking at the table until April at the earliest. Promise? No, me either – but the idea`s a good one at least.

The league ladder has made depressing reading for U`s fans for several months now but when you`re at the bottom there`s only one way to go – until the end of the season at least!

Come the start of April things should be looking much better. If not, you may officially break your promise.

Including today`s “relegation six pointer” (if only we got six points for a win!) we`ve got 11 games to play, six of them at home including three in a row against Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff and Hull.

Including Wednesday and the Lillywhites today there are two games against teams down near the foot of the table with us. Eleven games, 15-20 points and things could look very, very different. Given that`d almost double our tally so far you`d hope so!

It`s possible though, why not? Crystal Palace were down with us early on and are now flirting with the play-offs. Maybe that`s aiming high, but I think we`d all settle for 21st place at this stage!

With Coventry sacking Iain Dowie and Bryan Robson set for “showdown talks” at Sheffield United it`s quite possible some key rivals could implode at the perfect time for our well-timed surge up the table.

Money men eat the world

Given it`s in the papers so much at the moment it`d be remiss if I didn`t mention the Pr?mi£r L£ague`$ plans to play games overseas. What a load of money-grabbing nonsense.

Yet they protest it`s all about “spreading the gospel of the Premier League” and “marketing opportunities” and other such management-speak rubbish.

It`s more of their mantra of the rich get richer and stuff the rest. Guess how much of the meat from this cash cow the rest of English football would see.

The fact they`re saying it`ll be seeded is a confession to that. Who would you rather play three times a season? Man United or Derby? As a player or manager you`d say Derby – as a money-man United every time and there-in lies the rub.

The big-boys are protected from playing too tricky an opponent (poor lambs) and are, effectively gifted another three points. Can you imagine the protests when Arsenal play Wigan and Man United play Spurs. Arsenal win the title by three points and Wigan go down by a point. Ridiculous.

I say, test the theory. If it`s really about marketing and spreading the word why don`t the big boys volunteer one of their home games? Instead of Arsenal v Wigan at the Emirates it`s at the McDonald`s Bowl in Texas or wherever. The big boys are seeded, so they get an easy game – everyone wins right?

I`d bet when if it came to losing the prospect of a packed out Old Trafford or Emirates their tune`d soon change.

Anyway – enough of those spoiled rich kids. Get your hands out of your pockets and start clapping, chanting and cheering your heroes to three vital points today. When the U`s are the club making the trillions in the Premier League maybe I`ll change my tune! Up the Super White and Blues!

Read More from CO2 in tonight’s Match Day Magazine Still Priced at just £3.